Posted by Danny Stevenson on March 25, 2003 at 23:20:12:
In Reply to: block walls vs. poured walls? posted by tony christoff on January 20, 2003 at 13:55:16:
being a poured wall contractor and in the business for nearly 20 yrs, the comparison to block and concrete is hands down. In regards to strength...a block wall does have the same psi. rating as poured walls vertically...but horizonally it doesnt compare. And with 9' and 10' walls
becoming increasingly popular, the poured wall is the best way to go. With the addition of re-rod poured in the wall the strength is not comparible,a-lot of builders prefer the block wall to poured for the main reason that its been around so much longer.And for the fact that you can make a block wall as perfect as it can be..one is able to double check squareness and levelness throughout the construction of the basement.. and as for levelness with poured walls....it does take a little extra work to make it level due to shrinkage in the concrete when it dries...but it can be done,and there is the problem with a wall that crack's and leaks...with a block wall the water can come in at one point and travel through the cores of the block and enter the basement at another point...so one has to excavate the entire wall and re-waterproof it where as with a poured wall,you will see the crack and are able fix it from the inside with structual bonding which is an epoxy injected in to the crack for about $300.00 and is garunteed for life,there are a-lot of poured wall companies out there that put more emphasis on quanity rather than quality because one is able complete a wall minus the footing in a matter of 2 days, which is 1/2 the time that it takes a block mason.But if your lucky enough to find a poured wall company that will take its time and produce quality work, the poured wall is the way to go...just something to think about...take care..Square-Tech Foundations Inc.